WEBVTT OFFICERS REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM PROSECUTORS. INTERIM POLICE COMMISSIONER GARY TUGGLE IS STEPPING INTO A CONFLICT BETWEEN THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND CITY PROSECUTORS OVER A DISCLOSURE FORM. A STATEMENT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT READS IN PART -- "THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HAS ADVISED OFFICERS NOT TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONNAIRE CREATED BY THE STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. TO THAT END, THE POLICE COMMISSIONER IS ORDERING ALL OFFICERS TO COMPLY WITH THE QUESTIONNAIRE OR FACE DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS." WEDNESDAY A JUDGE DISMISSED THE DRUG POSSESSION CASE AGAINST 26-YEAR-OLD DWIGHT RANEY. >> I WAS HOPING I WOULD BE TREATED FAIRLY BY THE LAW. BARRY: THE ISSUES OF FAIRNESS ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY WERE ALL RAISED IN HIS CASE. -- FAIRNESS, PROBABILITY, AND TRANSPARENCY WERE ALL RAISED IN HIS CASE. ACCORDING TO A COURT CHARGING DOCUMENT, POLICE ARRESTED RANEY AND A CO-DEFENDANT IN NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR. BOTH MEN WERE INSIDE A VEHICLE PARKED IN A BUS STOP AND NO STOPPING ZONE IN THE 1600 BLOCK OF WEST NORTH AVENUE. RANEY ALLEGEDLY HAD 7 VIALS OF SUSPECTED COCAINE. IN COURT DEFENSE ATTORNEY ERICKA , KING SHOWED THE JUDGE THIS NOTICE FROM THE CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. >> THAT JUST CLICKED. THIS ISN’T RIGHT AND IS A VIOLATION. . >> IT CLAIMS THE OFFICERS WERE ASKED TO FILL OUT DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS ON WHETHER INTERNAL AFFAIRS FILES EXIST LOOKING INTO POSSIBLE MISCONDUCT BY THE OFFICERS. THE NOTICE SAYS THE OFFICERS REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION. THE OFFICERS ALSO UNDER OATH IN COURT REFUSED. IN DISMISSING THE CASE AGAINST RANEY, JUDGE PAUL SMITH SAID, IF YOU SENT THEM THE QUESTIONNAIRE THEY SHOULD PROVIDE ANSWERS. AND "THE OFFICERS INTERFERED WITH THE FLOW OF INFORMATION THE DEFENSE MUST HAVE. THE NEXT TIME THIS COMES BEFOR ME, I WILL TAKE PUNITIVE ACTION." THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE IN BALTIMORE RELEASED THIS STATEMENT. "WE ARE VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE RECENT ISSUES RELATIVE TO DISCLOSURE FORMS AS THEY RELATE TO THE COURT APPEARANCES OF OUR MEMBERS. WE ARE CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO WORK WITH THE STATE’S ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND THE BALTIMORE POLIC DEPARTMENT TO RESOLVE THE MATTER." MEANWHILE FOR DWIGHT RANEY A SENSE OF RELIEF. >> I’M HAPPY THE JUDGE RULED IN OUR FAVOR AND I’M HAPPY THAT MR. RANEY CAN GO TO WORK NOW. BARRY: A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE CITY STATE’S ATTORNEY SAYS "THIS PROCESS AND QUESTIONNAIRE IS SIMILAR AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL PROSECUTORIAL TOOLS UTILIZED BY THE US ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, WHICH IS WHY WE ARE DISMAYED BY THE INSTRUCTION OF THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE NOT TO COMPLY WITH OUR QUESTIONNAIRE." MELBA SAUNDERS ALSO

Baltimore Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle is ordering officers to follow a new court disclosure policy designed by the city state's attorney's office and the police legal team.The commissioner is threatening punitive sanctions to officers who do not follow the policy. This week, a judge tossed out a case because the officers refused to answer questions from prosecutors. A statement from the police department reads, in part: "The Fraternal Order of Police has advised officers not to answer the questionnaire created by the State's Attorney's Office. To that end, the police commissioner is ordering all officers to comply with the questionnaire or face disciplinary sanctions." On Wednesday, a judge dismissed the drug possession case against 26-year-old Dwight Raney. "I was hoping I would be treated fairly by the law," Raney said. The issues of fairness, accountability and transparency were all raised in his case. According to a court charging document, police arrested Raney and a co-defendant in November of last year. Both men were inside a vehicle parked in a bus stop and no stopping zone in the 1600 block of West North Avenue, the document says. Raney allegedly had seven vials of suspected cocaine, the document said.In court, Defense Attorney Ericka King showed the judge a notice from the city state's attorney's office that claims the officers were asked to fill out disclosure statements on whether internal affairs files exist looking into possible misconduct by the officers. The notice says the officers refused to provide the information. The officers also under oath, in court, refused. "That just clicked. This isn't right, it's a violation," King said. In dismissing the case against Raney, Judge Paul Smith said, "If you sent them the questionnaire, they should provide answers," and, "The officers interfered with the flow of information the defense must have. The next time this comes before me, I will take punitive action." The Fraternal Order of Police in Baltimore released the following statement: "We are very much aware of the recent issues relative to disclosure forms as they relate to the court appearances of our members. We are currently attempting to work with the State's Attorney's Office and the Baltimore Police Department to resolve the matter." Meanwhile, there is a sense of relief for Raney. "I'm happy the judge ruled in our favor and I'm happy Mr. Raney can go to work now," King said. Melba Saunders, spokeswoman for the city state's attorney, said: "This process and questionnaire is similar and in accordance with federal prosecutorial tools utilized by the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is why we are dismayed by the instruction of the Fraternal Order of Police not to comply with our questionnaire." Saunders also said the form was developed following several high-profile incidents involving police misconduct.

Related Content

"The Fraternal Order of Police has advised officers not to answer the questionnaire created by the State's Attorney's Office. To that end, the police commissioner is ordering all officers to comply with the questionnaire or face disciplinary sanctions."

On Wednesday, a judge dismissed the drug possession case against 26-year-old Dwight Raney.

"I was hoping I would be treated fairly by the law," Raney said.

The issues of fairness, accountability and transparency were all raised in his case. According to a court charging document, police arrested Raney and a co-defendant in November of last year. Both men were inside a vehicle parked in a bus stop and no stopping zone in the 1600 block of West North Avenue, the document says. Raney allegedly had seven vials of suspected cocaine, the document said.

In court, Defense Attorney Ericka King showed the judge a notice from the city state's attorney's office that claims the officers were asked to fill out disclosure statements on whether internal affairs files exist looking into possible misconduct by the officers. The notice says the officers refused to provide the information. The officers also under oath, in court, refused.

"That just clicked. This isn't right, it's a violation," King said.

In dismissing the case against Raney, Judge Paul Smith said, "If you sent them the questionnaire, they should provide answers," and, "The officers interfered with the flow of information the defense must have. The next time this comes before me, I will take punitive action."

The Fraternal Order of Police in Baltimore released the following statement:

"We are very much aware of the recent issues relative to disclosure forms as they relate to the court appearances of our members. We are currently attempting to work with the State's Attorney's Office and the Baltimore Police Department to resolve the matter."

Meanwhile, there is a sense of relief for Raney.

"I'm happy the judge ruled in our favor and I'm happy Mr. Raney can go to work now," King said.

Melba Saunders, spokeswoman for the city state's attorney, said:

"This process and questionnaire is similar and in accordance with federal prosecutorial tools utilized by the U.S. Attorney's Office, which is why we are dismayed by the instruction of the Fraternal Order of Police not to comply with our questionnaire."

Saunders also said the form was developed following several high-profile incidents involving police misconduct.